With the holiday season in full swing, it's time to start thinking about your safety. The risk of personal injury tends to go up during the holidays. The last thing you want is to get sidelined by an injury while you're trying to enjoy the holidays. Here are four steps you can take to protect yourself this year.

Be Aware of Potential Hazards

Whether you're going to be shopping or heading out to holiday parties, you need to be aware of potential hazards. This includes anything that could pose a risk of personal injury to you. For instance, when you're in a store, watch for spills on the ground or loose items where they shouldn't be. When you're out at parties, watch for icy sidewalks or loose stepping stones. If you find anything out of place, be sure to report them as soon as possible. Your attention to detail may prevent you from suffering a personal injury during the holidays. Not only that, but you may also prevent someone else from being injured as well.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

If you have a habit of driving through parking lots without your seat belt on, you need to make some changes. This is particularly true during the holiday season. People are in a hurry to get their shopping done and may not drive as safely as they should. If you're involved in a car accident while you're not wearing your seat belt, you could suffer serious injuries—even in a parking lot. It's also important that you make sure that your passengers are wearing their seat belts as well.

Wear the Proper Shoes

If you're going to be walking in the snow or ice, be sure to wear the proper shoes, even if you're attending a party. You never know when the sidewalks are going to be icy. People often forget to deice their sidewalks and driveways when preparing for their holiday parties. Wearing slip-resistant shoes will reduce your risk of slip and fall accidents. If you want to make sure that your shoes match your outfit, bring your dressy shoes along so that you can change once you get inside.

Pay Attention to What You Eat

If food will be served at the holiday parties you plan to attend, pay attention to what you eat. Food-borne illnesses are quite common during the holidays, especially when precautions aren't taken to keep food safe. To protect yourself from food-borne illnesses, monitor the temperatures of the food you're eating. If the cold food has gotten warm and the hot food has cooled down, avoid eating those particular options.

Don't let your holidays end with a personal injury. Use the tips provided here to help you stay safe this year. If you do suffer a personal injury during the holidays, be sure to contact attorneys like Jack W Hanemann, P.S. immediately.